Massage appliance



April l2, 1927. v

C. W. CHENEY MASSAGE APPLIANCE Filed July 20. 1926 ,f llllllllllllllll lil Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CHARLES W. CHENEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSAGE APELIANCE.

Application filed July 20,

This invention pertains to massage appliances and more particulz-irly to rotary applicators of that type adapted to produce deep indentations in the flesh of the patientwith intervening ridges or wrinkles which progressively advances as the applicator is rotated, thus breaking down fatty tissue.

Practical experience has demonstrated that highly beneficial results are obtainable when the flesh engaging surfaces of the applicators are hard and'smooth as compared with pads of soft rubber, felt, etc., since such hard and polished surfaces permit the rapid movement of the applicator relative to the surface of the skin, which is essential to proper operation, but without injury to the patient, although at the same time forming the deep wrinkles essential to effective action. Heretofore I have employed applicator knobs of highly polished and hard steel with good results. but further experience has convinced me that higher eiiiciency is obtainable if the flesh engaging elements, although still hard and polished, are of some non-metallic material, which is a poor conductor of heat. such, for example, as wood.

Such non-metallic knobs have certain very important advantages due particularly to the. fact that they are relatively poor conductors of heat and also because such materials produce a somewhat greater frictional effect on the skin than does metal.

Then a metal knob is employed it is necessary to keep the applicator substantially at bodily temperature in the intervals betweenl periods of use or to preheat it prior to use since the contact of the cold meta-l with the patients skin causes a disagreeable shock. Furthermore, the metal knob conducts away heat from the skin surface so rapidly that the heat generated by the rubbing` friction is insufficient to keep the applicator warm, so that it always feels cold to the patients skin. Moreover. the polished metal surfaces produce but little friction even under high pressure and at high speeds of rotation, although for the most edective action it is desirable to produce considerable friction which has the effec-t of stimulating` the circulation of the blood in the skin, thus assisting in lcarrying away the broken down tissue.

When the applicator knob is made of a wood or other polished non-metallic material which is a poor conductor of heat, the applicator may be kept at room temperature and 192 Serial No. 123,739.

applied to the patient with little discomfort; more important, it produces an agreeable sensation of warmth to the skin when in operation, due to the frictional heat generated, and practical experience has convinced me that this frictional heating` effect also stimulates the blood vessels of the skin.

Furthermore, such a non-metallic surface, even when highly polished appears to contact more intii'nately with the skin than does metal and thus to produce a more pronounced frictional effect on the skin than metal although without tearing or otherwise injuring the skin. Preferably I so mount the non-metallic fiesh engaging member as to permit it to yield under excessive pressure and to avoid injury when passing over bony structures close beneath the surface of the skin. Mince such a non-metallic member is subject to more rapid wear than is a hardened steel member, I prefer to provide for its ready replacement when worn.

rThe accompanying drawings show, by way of example, cert-ain desirabler embodiments of the invention, in which;

Fig. l is a side elevation of a. massage apparatus provided with an applicator having knobs embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the applicator shown in Fig. l;

3 is a diametral section illustrating one form of applicator knob and showing a fragmentary portion of the support or body of the applicator; and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 3 but showing respectively modifications o-f the improved structure.

Referring to the drawings, numeral l designates a casing forming the body portion of the massage apparatus, such casing having a handle i). and providing bearings for the applicator shaft 3. The casing is furnished with suitable gears, not shown, designed to transmit motion tothe shaft 3 from the shaft i 'disposed substantially at right angles to the shaft 3. This shaft 4t is preferably flexible to permit proper manipulation of the apparatus and is 'driven by any suitable source of power.

The shaft 3 carries the applicator proper which, as shown in Fig. l, comprises a base 5 preferably in the form of a disk which has a plurality of knobs t3 projecting from its end surface. These knobs may be spaced in any suitable manner but preferably symmetrically with respect to the axis of the disk 5. A suitable arrangement is indicated in Figi'. 2, it being noted that each ot' the knobsiis arranged eccentric to the axis ot the disk. Otherl arrangements ot the knobs ot the disk may he used it desired.

ln accordance with the coi'isl'ruction shown in Fig. 3 the knob conuiiriscs an elongate cylindrical base member i' attached at 8 to the disk 5. rlfhis base men'iber is i'u'el'erablv provided With an axially elongate diametral slot 9 and constitutes a guide tor a sleeve l0 which telescopes over this base member. To limit the movement oit the sleeve l0 out Wardly away from the disk 5, l provide a pin ll extending through the slot 9 ot the base member and having' its opposite ends secured in th-e Walls ot the sleeve l0. rlhis arrangement permits limited movement oit the sleeve longitudinally of the base member.

The outer end ot the sleeve l0 is closed by means of a plug l2. Ylhis plug' is made of some hard non-metallic i'iiaterial which is a. poor conductor of heat such, tor example., as vvood. Boxivood or similar close-grained material is very desirable for the purpose. although I contemplate that other materials than Wood may be substituted provided. they have the desired qualities of hardness and poor heat conduction.

The plug l2 is furnished With a neck 13 which fits Within the outer end ot the sleeve 10. The plug held in place in the sleeve by means of a removable pin 141. By removing;- the pin the plug may be Withdrawn from the sleeve and replaced by another plug` either of the same or different material. Thus l the eiiect of the applicator b v substitilting` plugs oit various materials, while l also provide for ready replacement ot Worn plugs. such replacement beingv necessary at frequent interi-*als since plugs made oft ivood or like substances Wear quite rapidly When sub jected to the friction of use.

The outer portion of the plug; lf2 :is ol substantially the sam-e diameter as the outside diameter ot the sleeve l0, and its outer end is smoothly rounded to provid-e a substantially semi-cylindrical rubbing surface l5. Preferably, this sui-'tace polished and merges smoothly into the cylindrical surface of the sleeve l0.

The inner end oli the plug' l2 is furnished with an axial socket 16 which is opposed to a similar socket 17 in the outer end of the base 7. The opposite ends of a compression spring,- 18 are .seated in the sockets i6 and 17 respectively. The spring 18 tends to force the sleeve l0 oi'ltwardly to 'the extent per mitted by the stop member ll, but permits the sleeve to move inwardly when sullicient pressure is appli-ed to the plug l2.

In Fig'. d the disk member is indicated at 5, the base of the knob at 7a, and the sleeve which telescopes over the base at 10a. The

provide a ready means for varyingl base is provided with an elongate slot 9"L for tl e reception ol the retaining pin 'llZL Whose opposite ends are seated in openings in the sleeve 10a, This pin llu is removable and is normally held in operative position by means ot a spring' ruig' lf).

The outer end of the sleeve l0 is closed by a plus' 2 having' a neck 13a fitting Within the sleeve and held in place by the remove able pin lll The plug has a spherically curved outer surface l5 and the sleeve Vl0"v held in its normal position b v means ot' the spring l held in place around the member Ta between the disk member 5a and the base ot the sleeve 10.

In F 5 the disk 5b supports the base member 7a which, in this instance, has a neck portion 2O ot reduced diameter. The sleeve 10b telescopes over the base 7a and is furnished at its inner end With an annular collar 2l which encircles the neck portion E20 of the base and which engages a stop shoulder on the base for limited outward movement ol the sleeve.

The sleeve l0" carries the )luc 12b at itsv outer end, such plug having' a neck 13b held in place by the removable pin lll. The pluri' has a rounded surface 15b and the spring' 18" is introduced between the inner end oit the plug` and the outer port-ion of the base l8r.

ln Fig. 6 the disk 5C is provided with spacer posts Q3 which support a secondary disk 24. in spaced relation to the disk 5C. The knob comprises the base member 7c at tached to the disk 5c. and this base member constitutes a guide for the sleeve 10"' which telescopes over the base member 70, passing through an annular opening between the base member and the member 24; The outer end ot the sleeve l0 is closed by a plug l2@ having` a neck 13C held in position by the removable pin 146. The outer end of the plug' is smoothly roundedas shown at 15C. The inner end ot the plug` is urnifvehed With, a socket lo opposed to a socket ll'c in the base 7, il compression spring` 18C has its opposite ends seated. in the sockets 16 and llf". This spring' tends to move the sleeve l0c outwardly but this movement is limited by the engagement of a flange at the inn-er end of the sleeve with the inner surface ot the member 24. v

lt beine* understood that applicator knobs ol any ot the types above described may be associated With one another in any desired combination upon the disk or support 5, it may be assumed that the shaft 3 is driven at the desired speed and that the outer ends ol" the several knobs carried by the disk 5 are applied to the flesh of the patient. These knobs. beingotl substantial length. may be pressed deeply .into the patients flesh, and when rotated produce deep indentations and wrinkles which progress rapidly as the applicator is rotated. Since the end portions of the applicator knobs are of material which does not conduct heat rapidly and which produces substantial friction when in enga-gement with the skin, the rapid rotation and moven'ient of the knobs in contact with the skin creates a considerable amount of ilrictional heat, and as this heat can not flow away rapidly, a sensation of heat is produced which is not only agreeable to the patient but also apparently assists in creating rapid circulation through the blood vessels of the skin. The glow thus produced is highly advantageous both in its tonic effect on the skin and also because of the fact that the more rapid blood flow carries away the old or broken down tissue, and thus assists in the reducing action. IVhile it is desirable to produce a certain degree of friction such as is, in fact, produced by highly polished Wooden knobs or knobs of similar material, it is not desirable to increase the friction unduly as would be the case were soft knobs or pads employed, since the rapid rotation of such soft pads under the pressure which is desirable for flesh reduction would undoubtedly cause tearing or other injury to the skin which is, of course, not permissible.

Since knobs of wood or similar material wear quite rapidly, it is necessary to replace them from time to time which may readily be accomplished. in the arrangement herein illustrated, by removing the retaining pin which holds the knob in position within the socket sleeve.

IVhile I have illustrated certain desirable forms of applicator knob as embodying the present invention, I wish it to be understood that in its broader aspects the invention is not necessarily limited to use in yielding knobs such as those herein disclosed nor to constructions in which the flesh engaging element is replaceable.

I claim:

l. In a mechanically operated massage appliance of the kind having a rotary supporting disk and a plurality of knobs projecting from one face of the disk, one at least of said knobs comprising telescoping cylindrical members, one of said members being secured to the disk and the other having' a removable end closure, said end closure consisting of a plug of hard n0n-metallic material having a substantially hemispherical flesh engaging surface.

2. In a mechanically operated massage appliance of the kind having a rotary support and a knob carried by the support, said knob comprising an elongate base member, an open ended metallic sleeve telescoping over said base member, a spring tending to move the sleeve out y'ardly from the support. a stop limiting such outward movement, and a removable wooden plug fitting within the outer end of the sleeve, said plug having a smooth and substantially hemispherical outer surface.

3. A mechanically operated massage applicator knob comprising a cylindrical base supported at one end, a cylindrical sleeve telescoping over said base, one of said parts having an axially elongate slot and the other having an element engaging said slot to limit relative movement of the parts, a non-metallic plug secured in the outer end of the sleeve, said plug having a hard and smoothly rounded outer surface, the inner end of the plug having a socket, and a compression spring having one end seated in said socket and the other seated in a socket in the outer end of the base.

4. A. mechanically operated massage applicator knob comprising an elongate base member supported at one end, a sleeve telescoping overI the base member, a spring tending to move the sleeve outwardly away from the supported end of the base member, stop means to limit outward movement of the sleeve, a plug closing the outer end of the sleeve, said plug having a stem fitting within the sleeve, and a head of a diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the sleeve, said head being` of hard nonn'iet-allic material and having a smoothly rounded outer end, and a removable pin for retaining the plug in the end of the sleeve.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 19th day of July, 1926.

CHARLES W. CHENEY. 

